The Band Boosters in coordination with the Band Director, Assistant Director and band staff members will present the following awards each year. The awards will be chosen by the band department staff and will be funded by the band boosters.

End of the Year Senior Band Awards -The John Philip Sousa Award - $750Since its inauguration in 1954, thousands of U.S. high schools have presented the John Philip Sousa Band Award to their most outstanding band student. The award recognizes those young musicians displaying superior musicianship, leadership, dependability, loyalty, cooperation, and other qualities of conduct which school instrumental music programs strive to impart. The Sousa award is the top nationwide prize in the school band field, both in prestige and appearance. It promotes the entire band by encouraging musicians to greater achievement and enthusiasm while providing an inspiring stimulus for potential instrumentalists. The John Phillip Sousa Award will be given to a senior band member who displays excellence in loyalty, cooperation, leadership, dependability, and musicianship and participated in events outside of the required schedule. -The Patrick S. Gilmore Band Award - $250 The Patrick S. Gilmore Band Award was introduced in 1994 in honor of the legendary bandmaster and impresario. Patrick Gilmore (1829-1892) and his band joined General Burnside’s expedition to North Carolina in the Civil War. Gilmore also played for every president of his day, including Abraham Lincoln. The Patrick Gilmore Award will be given to a senior band member who displays excellence in loyalty, cooperation, leadership, dependability, and musicianship and participated in events outside of the required schedule. -The Louis Armstrong Jazz Award - $500 The Louis Armstrong Jazz Award was introduced in 1974 with the approval of his widow, Lucille Armstrong, to honor outstanding jazz students. The Louis Armstrong Jazz Award will be given to the Senior Jazz Band member who best displays superior musicianship, leadership, character, and individual creativity as an instrumentalist in the form of Jazz.

-The Semper Fidelis Award - $250 High school musicians embody many virtues that the Marines admire. To help high schools promote recognition of achievements and sacrifices their musicians make, the Marine Corps provides the Semper Fidelis Music Award. This award is in spirit with the traditions that date back to the days of John Philip Sousa and his role in making the Marine Corps Band the premiere musical unit it is today -- The Presidents Own. The award is given to instrumentalists who meet and display many of the following criteria and qualities: is a High School Senior, is a competent musician, has displayed yearly improvement, dedication and enthusiasm, holds first or second chair position, capable of performing solos, and recognized as a truly outstanding young citizen.

-The Director Leadership Award - $500The Director Leadership Award is presented to a graduating senior band member who exemplifies our many core principles and serves as an outstanding role-model as a student leader. Within our ensembles, it’s up to our students to work together, both musically and on a leadership level. We ask our students to be extremely cognizant of the manner in which they work together and to strive to assist and further one-another. As Band Directors, we desire the best musical growth and experiences of and for our students. It’s also essential that at the core of our students’ involvement in the program they embrace and development the skills of leadership, teamwork, and support. The recipient of the Director Leadership Award has demonstrated not only the PRIDE of Mayfield’s core principles—Performance, Respect, Integrity, Dedication, and Excellence—but also those of loyalty, reliability, cooperation, - leadership and servant leadership in the band program.

Each year, the Marching and Concert Band Awards will be decided upon and given out by the directors. At times, it is possible that the directors decide that an award is given to more than one recipient. In addition, it is also possible that the directors make the decision to withhold giving out an award, as there may not be a recipient that fully fits the award description.